Full Breakdown
Independent Autopsy Findings and Rewards Offered in the Death of Nolan Wells
7/22/2026, 5:10:36 AM
Nolan Wells’ Death and Upcoming Autopsy Findings
Eighteen-year-old Nolan Wells disappeared on the night of July 4 while on a boating trip with friends near Horn Island, a barrier island off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. His body was recovered in the water off the island’s northwestern tip on the morning of July 6. The cause and manner of death have not been released by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office. Attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wells family, announced that preliminary findings from an independent autopsy will be disclosed at a news conference on Wednesday, July 22, during the 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Process
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the investigation remains active. Under standard procedure for “unnatural or suspicious” deaths in Jackson County, the district attorney’s office will present the completed investigation to a grand jury once it is finished. The family’s legal team is also conducting its own inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Wells’ death.
Rewards and Public Appeals for Information
Former NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens pledged a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Rev. Filmmaker Tyler Perry pledged additional funds, bringing the total reward pool to $125,000. Crump urged anyone with information, however minor, to call the Ben Crump Law call center at 888-991-1772.
Official Statements from Civil-Rights Leaders
Sharpton cautioned against premature conclusions, noting the need for a thorough investigation while acknowledging the community’s uncertainty about possible racial motives.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We cannot say it was racist, but we cannot say it was not racist,” — Rev. Al Sharpton
- “He was not on that island by himself,” — Rev. Al Sharpton
